局

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 局 (jú) is composed of two parts: 宀 (mián) and 勹 (yù). 宀 represents a roof or a house, while 勹 represents an enclosure or a boundary. Together, they form the character 局, which originally meant "a room" or "a chamber".Over time, the meaning of 局 has expanded to include "a place where people gather", "a group of people with a common interest", "a situation", or "a game". It can also be used as a verb, meaning "to confine" or "to restrict".In modern Chinese, 局 is commonly used in the following contexts:- 办公室 (bàngōngshì): office- 教室 (jiàoshì): classroom- 会议室 (huìyìshì): conference room- 棋局 (qíjú): chessboard- 战局 (zhànjú): battle situation- 困局 (kùnjú): predicament- 布局 (bùjú): layout- 安排 (ānpái): arrangementBy understanding the etymology of 局, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and usage in different contexts.